Episode 162: Students Didn’t Meet Expectations? Why That’s Not the Real Problem

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As teachers, we’ve all been there—you’ve planned the lesson, you’ve given directions, and then… your students just don’t meet the expectations. Blank stares, missing homework, silence after a question. 😩

But here’s the thing: maybe unmet expectations aren’t really the problem. In this episode, I sit down with Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator, to explore how shifting our mindset can transform frustration into curiosity—and how that shift can change the way we connect with our students.

This conversation will challenge the way you see those tough classroom moments and give you strategies you can start using tomorrow.

✨ Takeaways

• Why unmet expectations feel so heavy for teachers—and what’s actually underneath them.
• The difference between a “shoulds mindset” and a curiosity mindset in the classroom.
• Simple sentence starters to reframe your response when students don’t do the reading, homework, or show up prepared.
• How a mindset shift can help you maintain joy and keep communication flowing, even on hard days.

📚 Resources & Links

Find all the resources and entire blog post here.

🎧 Related Episodes:

Episode 88 with Dr. Bill VanPatten: Why Input Still Matters

Episode 84 with Dr. Stephen Krashen: The Power of Reading

📌 Resources + Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy → growingwithproficiency.com/academy
• Follow me on Instagram @claudiamelliott 
• ​​📑 Discover culturally rich, month-specific resources for Spanish classes in myTPT Store: Growing With Proficiency. 
• September Calendar Talk